Operations

TNCs Decimate Los Angeles Taxi Industry

Uber and Lyft have dealt a swift, brutal blow to the Los Angeles taxi industry, city records show.

Since the ride-hailing services began operating in Southern California three years ago, the number of L.A. taxi trips arranged in advance has fallen by 42%, according to city data, and the total number of trips has plummeted by nearly a third.

The steepest drops were in the city's most popular nightlife and tourist destinations: the Westside, Hollywood and downtown.

The declines point to the seismic shift wrought by the popular app-based transportation companies, which have wrested market share from taxi companies that have enjoyed decades of dominance in Los Angeles.

And the decline mirrors what's happening across the country, as taxis regulated on everything from price to the color of their cars have struggled to compete with cheaper, more nimble start-ups.